Maryland names former federal agency CISO as state’s new cyber chief

Maryland’s technology department on Monday announced it’s hired James Saunders, a former federal technology official, to serve as its new chief information security officer.

Saunders, who started as acting CISO on Monday and will become the state’s permanent cybersecurity chief after a Senate confirmation, most recently served as deputy chief information officer of the Office of Personnel Management. He also spent nearly three years as OPM’s CISO and nearly three years in various security roles at the Small Business Administration, including one year as its CISO.

In a press release, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Saunders’ hire is a “big deal” in light of his administration’s new strategy to create new cybersecurity apprenticeships, with the aim of filling  thousands of open cybersecurity jobs and bolstering the economy.

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